...(1) (2) Physiology of Seed Germination Miller B. McDonald Seed Biology Program Department of Horticulture and Crop Science The Ohio State University Columbus, OH 43210-1086 mcdonald.2@osu.edu (3) In the germination process, the seed’s role is that of a reproductive unit; it is the thread of life that assures survival of all plant species. Furthermore, because of its role in stand establishment, seed germination remains a key to modern agriculture. Thus, especially in a world acutely aware of the delicate balance between food production and world population, a fundamental understanding of germination is essential to crop production. (4) Definition of Seed Germination. Various definitions of seed germination have been proposed, and it is important to understand their distinctions. The the seed physiologist, germination is defined as the emergence of the radicle through the seed coat. Such a definition says nothing about other essential structures such as the epicotyl or hypocotyls that become the above ground parts of a successful seedling. To the seed analyst, germination is “the emergence and development from the seed embryo of those essential structures which, for the kind of seed in question, are indicative of the ability to produce a normal plant under favorable conditions.” This definition focuses on the reproductive ability of the seed, an essential objective in agriculture. Does it have the capacity to produce a normal plant? Others consider germination to be the resumption...
Words: 4195 - Pages: 17
...Before you can begin to determine what the composition of a particular paragraph will be, you must first decide on an argument and a working thesis statement for your paper. What is the most important idea that you are trying to convey to your reader? The information in each paragraph must be related to that idea. In other words, your paragraphs should remind your reader that there is a recurrent relationship between your thesis and the information in each paragraph. A working thesis functions like a seed from which your paper, and your ideas, will grow. The whole process is an organic one—a natural progression from a seed to a full-blown paper where there are direct, familial relationships between all of the ideas in the paper. The decision about what to put into your paragraphs begins with the germination of a seed of ideas; this “germination process” is better known as brainstorming. There are many techniques for brainstorming; whichever one you choose, this stage of paragraph development cannot be skipped. Building paragraphs can be like building a skyscraper: there must be a well-planned foundation that supports what you are building. Any cracks, inconsistencies, or other corruptions of the foundation can cause your whole paper to crumble. So, let’s suppose that you have done some brainstorming to develop your thesis. What else should you keep in mind as you begin to create paragraphs? Every paragraph in a paper should be: Unified: All of the sentences in a single...
Words: 351 - Pages: 2
...experiment is to determine the effect of acid rain on seed germination. I chose this idea for a project because I have heard that acid rain is becoming a more prominent factor, around the world, due to pollution. I see reports of this in books and websites I've visited, as well as news articles I have read. LITERATURE REVIEW http://www.selah.k12.wa.us/soar/sciproj99/CodySciProj.html The germination test results from glass labeled “Trial 1” (100% water), and “Trial 5” (highest acid content) showed an 11% difference. The more acid contained in the water resulted in less seeds germinating. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15859434 Rice, wheat and rape seeds were treated with simulated acid rain at pH 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 5.0 levels for 7 days in order to understand the effects of acid rain on seed germination of various acid-fast plants. The germination test showed that seed germination was absolutely inhibited at pH 2.0 for three species. Rice and wheat seeds germinated abnormally at pH 2.5. When pH values above 3.0, percentage germination, germination energy, germination index, vigor index of rice, wheat and rape seeds increased in relation with decreased acidity levels. In contrast, the percentage of abnormal germination of rice and wheat decreased. The experiment data about physiological aspect demonstrated that water absorption rate, respiratory rate and storage reserve transformation rate of rice, wheat and rape seeds also increased with increased pH values. RELEVENCE...
Words: 1337 - Pages: 6
...amount of water has on the germination of the broad bean. Broad beans, also known by its scientific name of vicia faba, are large flat edible beans that are frequently used in salads and other health orientated recipes. They are native to the North Africa and Southwest Asia and can grow up to 6 feet tall, developing purple and white flowers that then turn into seed filled pods. The beans favour sunny conditions with shelter that protects it from to much rainfall. They do not germinate well in soil with strong acid, preferring neutral and slightly alkaline soils, about 6.0-7.5 on the pH scale. Germination is the process of a seed awaking from dormancy and sprouting. Germination is important due to it being the first step of a seed becoming a plant. To sprout successfully, seed germination relies on two different types of variables, internal and external variables. Internal are the aspects of the seed itself. These include seed vitality, genotype, seed maturation and seed dormancy. The external variables are the variables that are part of the environment where the seed is germinating. The external variables that affect seed germination are light, temperature, water and oxygen. We chose water as our external variable due to it being an essential element that is needed for survival. When the water is poured into the container, the soil will absorb the water. The germination of the bean will begin. The seeds go through the process of imbibition, when the seed uptakes the water and hydrates...
Words: 2243 - Pages: 9
...native to several temperate and boreal regions of North America where decrease in floodwaters exposes minerals in the soil surfaces. Cottonwoods are ecologically important to arid regions of western and southwestern North America because of the absence of other native tree species as their replacements (Rood and Mahoney, 1990; Cooper et al. 1999). Cottonwoods are prone to high invasion in riparian ecosystems as a result of large amount of hydrological disturbance in such areas (Tabacchi 1995). Cottonwood trees can be either male or female both of which contain flowers clustered in catkins (Braatne et al. 1996). Seeds produced by both flowers are reported to be greater than twenty five millions per tree annually (Schreiner 1974). Since the seed viability is very less lasting for 1-2 weeks under natural conditions and 2-3 days under wet conditions germination of seeds must occur in short period of time. Cottonwoods can also reproduce asexually through crown breakage and tree fall during wind storms and flooding events. The broken branches after being buried in sediment sprout and develop strong shoots. Species, climatic condition and drainage basin of the area determines whether the seedlings are established more from sexual reproduction or asexual propagules may outdo seedlings in growth and competition (Braatne et al. 1996). Cottonwood seedlings are poor competitors and their establishment depends on temporal and spatial variation in suitable sites. If sufficient rainfall...
Words: 1495 - Pages: 6
... ABSTRACT Seed priming had increased germination of several plants particularly vegetables. The effect of PEG 8000 concentrations levels i.e. 100, 200, 300 g liter-1 water, water soaked and control (seed not treated) on germination m-2 and plant population hectare-1 at harvest of Mung bean varieties NM-92 and NM-98 seeds treated for 6 and 12 hours and then dried for a whole day in open air at room temperature, were studied at Agricultural Research Farm, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar during 2003. Emergence m-2 was significantly enhanced by 8% for treated seed compared to control but has non-significant improvement over water soaked. Emergence was increased from 56% (control) to 69% for seed treated 300 g PEG liter-1 water. Longer treatment duration (12 hours) significantly increased emergence m-2 by 1% compared to 6 hours treatment. Though non-significant result was found for plant at harvest yet increment in PEG concentrations had resulted in more number of plants at harvest for primed seed compared to non-primed seed. In conclusion PEG 8000 treated seeds showed better performance than both water soaking and control seeds. INTRODUCTION Mung bean (Vigna radiata Wilczk) belongs to family leguminoseae, cultivated in summer through out Pakistan. Being leguminous crop, poor crop establishment is often cited as a major constraint for mung bean production (Naseem et al., 1997; Kirchof et al., 2000; Rahmianna et al., 2000). Mung bean germination and performance...
Words: 2528 - Pages: 11
...From observing the class data and my own data, I’ve noticed that the two plants, California Buckwheat and Laurel Sumac both benefited from the absence of the seed soak treatment . It appears that the seeds that lacked moisture had increased growth. There was a strong correlation between growth and low moisture level, showing that these plants do not need an incredible amount of moisture for productive growth. Using a medium amount of moisture can also amount to productive growth. The variable that has the largest effect on germination is soil moisture level. The Soil moisture level greatly affected how many seeds germinated, lower and medium level moisture levels tended to germinate more than soil with a higher moisture content. This could be because soil with a higher moisture content differs from the dryer soil that exists by the LA river. The seeds germinated in a condition closest to that of the LA river. The best condition for growing buckwheat appears to be a low soil moisture level and seeds that do not undergo the seed soaking treatment. The Laurel Sumac grows best in conditions similar to the California Buckwheat, low to medium moisture levels and the absence of a...
Words: 526 - Pages: 3
...PURPOSE Is it important to plant a seed at its recommended depth for proper growth and germination? Hypothesis I think that my project will show that it is important to plant seeds at their recommended depth for proper growth and germination. Materials 1. Large bag of potting soil 2. 3- Transparent plastic containers 3. Marigold seeds (or seed of your choice) 4. Measuring cup 5. Water 6. Heat Lamp 7. Spoon 8. 3- Aluminum pans 9. Hammer and a nail 10. Block of scrap wood 11. Flashlight 12. Ruler 13. Notebook/Pencil 14. Sharpie Procedure 1. Place one plastic container on the scrap wood and use the hammer and nail to make several drainage holes in the bottom. Then place the plastic container in one aluminum pan to catch drainage. 2. Measure and mark the following depths on the side of the container. 2”, 1.5”, 1”, ½”, ¼”, and ground level. 3. Fill the container loose with soil until it is level with the ground measurement on the side. 4. Plant a seed at each depth level mark on the side of the container. (Ground-2”) 5. Using a measuring cup add 1 cup of water to the container. Do this every other day for the duration of the project. 6. Place the container under heat lamp for 8 hours per day. 7. Check your seeds and record any changes every day. You may need to use a flashlight in order to see the seeds more clearly. 8. Repeat the above steps for all 3 containers...
Words: 637 - Pages: 3
...THE GERMINATION RESPONSE OF BARLEY AND MAIZE TO TEMPERATURE Practical Report ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted with the aim of observing the temperature required for the optimal germination of barley and maize. Given that barley and maize embryos are known for germinating in autumn and summer respectively it was to be expected that maize would have a higher threshold to temperature than barley. To investigate this, samples of both maize and barley embryos were subjected to different temperatures. The results supported the hypothesis. Barley had a maximum germination of 98.2 percent (%) at 25 degrees Celsius (⁰C) and maize had a maximum germination of 98.5% at 25⁰C. Conversely the evidence that supports the hypothesis is that barley had its best chance of germination between 20 and 25⁰C and Maize between 25 and 35⁰C. The accounted problem with the experiment was the number of limitations that could have occurred. Some of limitations being the small amount of germinated embryos counted and possibly having unfertile embryo(s). Page 1 Practical Report INTRODUCTION Seed dormancy is a term for the process of seeds having the ability to delay germination until conditions are ideal for them. (Campbell, Reece and Meyers 2009 pg, 820) discuss the process of dormancy as a condition of where the seed have an extremely low metabolic rate and suspension of growth and development. The requirement for specific cues to break seed dormancy increases the chances that germination will...
Words: 1358 - Pages: 6
...This IRP will/is going to be testing how liquid nitrogen affects the germination rate of seeds. Cryopreservation is whenever damaged cells are frozen at sub-zero temperatures to attempt to preserve the cell. In preserving the cell it is possible to fix the cell or help the damage done depending on how densely packed the seed is. Based on the information provided if the seeds are stored in the liquid nitrogen then they will germinate at a faster rate than the control group. Germination is the process of the plant growing from the seed. Germination starts when a seed soaks up water at a constant rate. The soaking up of water by the seed is called imbibition (imbibition means drink and seeds imbibe water). When the seeds continuously intake water they hydrate there enzymes and it increases their metabolic activity which produces energy for the plant to grow. Liquid nitrogen helps the seed germinate faster by freezing the seed over so that the water levels around the seed increase. When the seed is sowed it already has water soaked into it so it grows faster. The Apple seeds that will be used are Malus Domestica. I will refer to Malus Domestica as MD for the rest of the paper. MD seeds...
Words: 740 - Pages: 3
...Accomplishment for the 2nd Grading Period Accomplishment for the 2nd Grading Period The World of Plants Root crops Plant stalk Vegetable Leaves Flower Part Fruit Part Seed Part Plants that Reproduce Sexually Plants can reproduce asexually or sexually. To reproduce asexually, plants use rhizoids, fragmentation, or budding. Strawberries, crab grass, and Bermuda grass are examples of plants that reproduce with rhizoids. The creeping Charlie is an example of a plant that reproduces through fragmentation. The banana is an example of a plant that reproduces through budding. Sexual reproduction in plants involves male and female plant organs. The female structures involved in sexual reproduction are the stigma, the style and the ovary. The stigma is the sticky portion of the pistil that captures pollen. The style is long and slender and supports the stigma. The ovary is composed of one or more ovules and is responsible for housing the eggs. The male structures involved in sexual reproduction are the filament and the anther. The filament supports the anther which is responsible for storing and producing pollen. Pollination is the transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma. Wind, water, insects, birds, and small mammals all aid in the pollination of plants. After pollination, one nuclei of the pollen grain forms a tube down through the style to the micropyle of the ovary. The second nuclei travels down the tube and splits into two sperm...
Words: 2042 - Pages: 9
...EFFECTS OF SODIUM CHLORIDE ON THE GERMINATION OF Phaseolus vulgaris Garrett Dora Adam, Chris, Wilbert Biology 109 Kristen Kane October 11th, 2017 ABSTRACT In this experiment, Phaseolus vulgaris seeds were exposed to sodium chloride with differing concentrations, and the results were recorded. The significance of this study is to find out if beans that were exposed to a sodium chloride solution are less likely to germinate than those that were in the control group. The hypothesis that was tested was that if kidney beans were subjected to high concentrations of sodium chloride then they would be less likely to germinate compared to kidney beans in the control group, After seven days, the results were recorded,...
Words: 1894 - Pages: 8
...determine if glucose helps the germination of radish. Radish germinates fairly quickly if it is provided with proper growing conditions as well as care. Radish seeds can germinate within three to four days, but can take up to ten days. Factors such as lighting and temperature will affect the growth of the radish. Radishes are almost disease-free if they are grown properly. They need sunlight for at least six to eight hours in order for them to grow quickly without molding; however, rash seeds will germinate in partial sunlight as well. Many plants and seeds are unable to grow due to the build-up of high concentration of salt due to the salts from water (Weinheimer, 2001). Not having any types of sunlight or lighting can affect the germination rate as well as the seeds molding, depending on the temperature of the room. Radish seeds grow best in temperatures around 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. These seeds should remain moist and should be watered when they are beginning to dry. Carbohydrates are an energy source and building blocks for organic molecules (Dekkers, Schuurmans, & Smeekens, 2004). Glucose is a simple sugar and is an important component for many types of life on earth. Glucose is a carbohydrate, which gives energy to living organisms. Since glucose is essential for life, the theory was that if glucose was used on the radish seeds, the germination process would be accelerated. Our hypothesis was that if we used glucose, our germination should be quicker. Materials...
Words: 1104 - Pages: 5
...Germination of Lesser Celandine: Ranunculus fulcra Invasive species are classified as species that are new to an area, have the ability to thrive in their new niche and cause a negative impact on the environment. They are considered to be a dangerous threat to the biodiversity of an ecosystem and may cause negative impacts for human economies, health and resources (1). The modes at which invasive species cause harm include: an increase in competition for food/resources leading to loss in diversity, the destruction of habitat, transmitter of disease, disrupting nutrient cycling and natural production. (2) The rate of change for the migration of species across continents has increased rapidly as a result of human exploration and travel; giving invasive species a mode of transportation to new locations where they can flourish (3). Ohio is not exempt from the spread of invasive species. About 1/4th of the plant species in ohio are considered to be non-native and around 60 of those alien species are invasive according to the ohio department of natural resources. The invasiveness of a plant species can be distinguished by one or all of the following factors: fast vegetative growth, high reproductive and seed germination rate, extensive seed production, and longevity (Ohio invasive plant council). Plants species like the Lonicera maackii, for instance, have spread throughout ohio and reduced the number of native tree seedlings and herbaceous plants in the area. (Hutchinson...
Words: 427 - Pages: 2
...The objectives of this research were to evaluate germination response of two Handroanthus species to varying conditions of temperature and substrate and to study its post-seminal morphology, showing normal and abnormal seedling patterns, to provide better ways for laboratory test interpretations. Both Bignoniaceae species, Handroanthus heptaphyllus Mattos and H. impetiginosus Mattos, are characterized by an arboreal habit and a remarkable flowering preceded by intense leaf fall at the beginning of the dry season. Because of the latter feature, they have been used as ornamental trees in urban afforestation (Lorenzi, 1992). Their green-brown wood is extremely heavy and hard. For restrictions on the use of chemically treated woods of temperate origin, some of this species (i.e. H. impetiginosus) are the most marketed Amazonian wood species in the USA (Schulze et al., 2008). Despite increasing commercial interest of timber companies, its species have been under severe threat because (i) the overexploitation of its timber forest product, (ii) severe fragmentation and habitat destruction where the species grows and (iii) the impacts of climate change (Nepstad et al. 2004; Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2009). Both Handroanthus were indicated as prioritized tree species for genetic conservation initiatives in Brazil (FAO, 2012)....
Words: 369 - Pages: 2
